Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 83rd annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held Feb. 13 to 20 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.
To qualify for the state show, competitors had to first participate in parish and district livestock shows across Louisiana. At the state show, 1,816 youths exhibited 2,694 breeding animals, 1,241 market animals and 1,414 birds, according to the AgCenter Livestock Show manager Dwayne Nunez.
Judges at the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show determined more than 2,000 state champions in various breeds of beef and dairy cattle, goats, hogs, poultry and sheep.
Although the event showcases examples of the state’s important livestock industries, AgCenter administrators say it is much more than that.
“This show is much more about recognizing champion young people than it is about naming champion animals,” said Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture. “Every youngster who participated in this show is a champion because of the dedication, skills and knowledge they’ve demonstrated by caring for their animals.”
The winners included:
Reserve Champion Any Other Breed Buck — Garrett Manuel, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion Nigerian Dwarf Doe — Emmerson Lyons, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion Myotonic Buck — Josie Deshotel, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion Myotonic Doe — Josie Deshotel, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion Nubian Buck — Adam Stelly, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Nubian Doe — Adam Stelly, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Hampshire Ewe — Zoie Zaunbrecher, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Hampshire Ewe — Megan Davidson, St. Landry 4-H
Champion Any Other Breed Ram — Jacob Fontenot, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Any Other Breed Ram — Kaleb Fontenot, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Any Other Breed Ewe — Hannah LeBlanc, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Any Other Breed Ewe — Kathryn LeBlanc, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe — Zoie Zaunbrecher, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Commercial Ewe — Emily Zaunbrecher, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Champion Beefmaster Bull — Jeanne Marie Fontenot, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Beefmaster Bull — Kayl Tassin, 5th Ward Junior High FFA.
Champion Louisiana-bred Beefmaster Bull — Morgan McDaniel, Ville Platte FFA.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Brangus Heifer — Taylor Faul, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Red Brahman Heifer — Leah Thibodeaux, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Simbrah Bull — Scott Berzas, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion Simbrah Heifer — Lizzie Herpin, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Simbrah Heifer — Trent Broussard, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Simbrah Heifer — Trent Broussard, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Any Other Breed, Non-Brahman Influence, Bull — John Hains, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Champion Any Other Breed — Makayla Corder, Acadia Parish 4-H.
